By Staff Writer
Monrovia-The Liberia National Police, LNP, has suspended four officers without pay over a range of alleged disciplinary violations, including assault, excessive use of force, negligence of duty, corruption and gross insubordination, in what the institution says is part of its effort to enforce professional standards and accountability within the force.
The disciplinary actions communicated through letters issued by the Police Human Resource Management Division between October 28 and 29, affect Patrolmen Thomas W. Woart, Roderick Samukai, John V. Roques and Melvin K. Jappah.
Among the four officers, Woart faced the most immediate legal exposure.
He has been placed on indefinite suspension without salary and referred for criminal investigation, although the police announcement did not provide details of the specific allegations against him or identify the investigative authority handling the matter.
Patrolman Samukai was handed a two-month suspension without salary for negligence of duty, while Patrolmen Roques and Jappah were each suspended for six months without salary over alleged corruption and other disciplinary violations.
The suspensions underscored the police administration’s latest effort to address misconduct within its ranks, particularly allegations involving the abuse of police authority, failure to discharge official responsibilities and conduct considered inconsistent with the standards of law enforcement.
One Officer Referred for Criminal Investigation
The indefinite suspension of Woart stands out among the disciplinary measures, as his case has also been referred for criminal investigation.
Unlike the other three officers, whose announced penalties specify fixed suspension periods, Woart’s suspension has no stated end date.
The referral for criminal investigation suggests that the allegations against him may extend beyond internal disciplinary concerns and could attract further legal scrutiny.
However, the LNP has not publicly disclosed the specific circumstances surrounding the alleged misconduct or whether formal criminal charges have been filed.
A referral for investigation does not constitute a finding of criminal guilt, and any criminal liability would have to be established through the appropriate legal process.
Six-Month Suspensions for Alleged Corruption
Roques and Jappah received the longest fixed suspension periods, with each ordered to remain off duty without salary for six months.
The police identified alleged corruption and other disciplinary violations as the basis for the sanctions but did not specify the nature of the alleged corrupt practices or whether the cases involved separate incidents.
Samukai, meanwhile, was suspended for two months without salary over negligence of duty.
The disciplinary announcement also cited excessive use of force and gross insubordination among the categories of misconduct addressed by the police, although it did not clearly specify which particular allegations were assigned to each officer.
Officers Ordered to Surrender Government Property
As part of the disciplinary measures, all four officers have been directed to surrender government-issued properties during their respective suspension periods.
The directive is intended to ensure that suspended personnel do not retain official government assets while they are relieved of active police duties.
The affected officers, however, retain the right to appeal their suspensions in accordance with the LNP Administrative Instructions on Discipline and Professional Standards.
The appeals provision provides an administrative avenue through which the officers may challenge the sanctions imposed against them.
LNP Reaffirms Zero Tolerance for Misconduct
In announcing the disciplinary actions, the Liberia National Police reaffirmed its position that indiscipline and misconduct will not be tolerated within the institution.
The police administration emphasized that professionalism, integrity, accountability, and respect for lawful authority remain essential standards for every officer entrusted with protecting lives, enforcing the law, and maintaining public order.
The institution also said it remains committed to enforcing its disciplinary regulations, protecting public confidence, and strengthening the professionalism of the police service while respecting established procedures and the rights of affected officers.
The latest suspensions come against the backdrop of continuing public expectations that police officers exercise their authority responsibly and remain accountable for their conduct.
For an institution whose mandate places it at the center of public safety and law enforcement, allegations of assault, excessive force, and corruption carry particular significance because they directly concern the exercise of state authority over citizens.
While the LNP has yet to disclose further details of the individual cases, the disciplinary actions send a clear institutional message that police personnel are subject to internal accountability mechanisms and that alleged violations can attract serious administrative consequences, including suspension without pay and referral for criminal investigation.
The statement was issued by the Liberia National Police Press and Public Affairs Division.
